The bill, which is being proposed by
a bipartisan group of lawmakers
including Senators Jeff Sessions (R, Ala)
and Edward Kennedy (D, Mass), aims
to fight prescription drug diversion
and abuse throughout the country.

The nation's "law enforcement officials
want to stop the flow of prescription
drugs to the streets," and a national
electronic monitoring program will
be a "valuable resource" to help them,
Kennedy said in endorsing the bill.

Although 19 states currently operate
their own electronic Rx monitoring
systems, officials concede that these
programs vary widely in terms of the
methods used to collect and store data.
States also impose inconsistent rules
governing the use of prescribing and
dispensing informationan issue that
worries privacy advocates.

A national system funded by the
federal government "must include
strong safeguards for medical privacy,
and must make certain that the database
cannot be used to bring improper
pressure on physicians to avoid prescribing
essential medication for
patients in need," Kennedy said.